Alex Buono
Host David Altrogge sits down with Alex Buono to discuss the art of mockumentary filmmaking. Known for his groundbreaking work on DOCUMENTARY NOW, Alex shares insights from his early career, starting as a camera assistant, his time at SNL, and the significance of casting and technical precision in filmmaking. The discussion highlights the passion driving 'Documentary Now!' and the dedication of its creators to celebrate and spoof documentaries authentically.
summary
Alex Bono, director of Documentary Now, discusses his journey into mockumentary filmmaking and his experience working on Saturday Night Live. He shares how he transitioned from being a cinematographer to a producer and director, and how his time at SNL influenced his approach to chaos and improvisation. Bono also talks about his work on the documentary Bigger Stronger Faster and the origins of Documentary Now as a parody of punk rock documentaries. The creators of the show Documentary Now! discuss the process of making the series and the challenges they face. They talk about the evolution of the show and how they came up with the concept. They also discuss the importance of authenticity and staying true to the documentary genre. The conversation touches on the technical aspects of the show, such as the use of vintage lenses and lighting techniques. The creators emphasize the passion and love they have for making the show, despite the low budget and challenges they face.
keywords
mockumentary, filmmaking, cinematography, producing, directing, Saturday Night Live, chaos, improvisation, Bigger Stronger Faster, Documentary Now, Documentary Now!, making the show, evolution, authenticity, documentary genre, technical aspects, vintage lenses, lighting techniques, passion, low budget
takeaways
Alex Bono started out as a camera assistant and worked his way up to becoming a cinematographer before transitioning into producing and directing.
His experience at Saturday Night Live taught him to be comfortable with chaos and to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
Bono's documentary Bigger Stronger Faster explored the use of steroids in American culture and the clash between the pursuit of success and the moral implications of cheating.
Documentary Now, a mockumentary series, was born out of a short film parody created by Bono and his colleagues at SNL.
IFC took a bold move in greenlighting Documentary Now, a niche show that parodies obscure documentaries. Documentary Now! is a show that is authentic and not mainstream, which gives hope to creators who want to do something different.
The creators faced challenges in the early stages of the show, but the involvement of well-known actors helped mitigate some of the risks.
The show evolved over time and the creators had to figure out what it would be, but by the first season, they had a clear vision.
The creators had a lot of creative freedom and enjoyed making the show, even though it was low budget and not financially rewarding.
The documentary community is supportive and less competitive, and the creators of Documentary Now! appreciate the support they receive from other filmmakers.
The show pays attention to technical details and tries to recreate the look and feel of the documentaries it parodies, using vintage lenses and lighting techniques.
The performances in the show are mostly scripted, but there is room for improvisation and exploring different tonal variations.
Casting the right actors is crucial, and once they are cast, there is minimal directing of performances on set.
The creators strive to create a balance between comedy and drama, and sometimes the quiet moments are the funniest.
The creators of Documentary Now! are passionate about documentaries and the show is a labor of love for them.
sound bites
"I wanted to experience the pre-production, the development part. And I also wanted to be more involved in post and I wanted to sell the film."
"SNL became a really great home for me to come back to, kind of get some paid work and pay my bills while I continued to sort of transition from being a cinematographer into being more of a producer and cinematographer, I guess."
"What does it say about American culture that all of our heroes are, turns out, that they're doing something to get ahead, they're breaking the rules to get ahead."
"It gives me a lot of hope that there's like there are people who are willing to do stuff that's really authentic, but not like mainstream."
"Some of that risk is mitigated by the fact that you'll have Bill Hader and Fred Armisen in every episode and Seth Meyers is, you know, so there's some of that that gives you a little bit of risk management, I guess, as a network."
"For those guys, mean, they're still doing movies, Seth's doing his show, Fred's still doing Portlandia and he's still, you know, for them it was like, this just seems like a fun thing we could do and we could just do it to amuse ourselves."
chapters
00:00Introduction to Alex Bono and Mockumentary Filmmaking
02:04Transitioning from Cinematography to Producing and Directing
10:07Working at Saturday Night Live and Embracing Chaos
23:50Exploring Steroids and American Culture in Bigger Stronger Faster
26:17The Origins of Documentary Now
28:14IFC's Bold Move with Documentary Now
28:42Authenticity and Non-Mainstream Appeal
29:07Evolution and Clear Vision
30:35Challenges and Creative Freedom
31:55Supportive Documentary Community
32:54Attention to Technical Details
37:23Scripted Performances with Room for Improvisation
42:37Casting and Minimal Directing
45:26Balancing Comedy and Drama
53:36Labor of Love for Documentary Enthusiasts
A special thanks to Caleb J. Murphy (https://calebjmurphy.com/) and Musicbed (http://share.mscbd.fm/daltrogge) for the great tunes. School of Doc is a Production of Vinegar Hill (https://vinegarhill.film/)